September 2026
A superb experience for a first 4,000 m peak, full of traditions and landscapes. Our guide Yassine was great and looked after us all the way up! I recommend it!
Translated from French
Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley
A quieter, more varied way to the summit: over the Tizi n'Mzik pass into the green Azzaden Valley before climbing Toubkal.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Level
- Challenging
- Highest point
- 4,167 m
- Starts
- Imlil, 1.5 h from Marrakesh
- Price per person
- from €195
The trek
Most trekkers walk straight up from Imlil to the Toubkal refuge. This route takes the scenic way. On the first day you cross the Tizi n'Mzik pass into the Azzaden Valley, one of the greenest and most beautiful valleys in the High Atlas, and spend the night in the village of Tizi Oussem before heading on to the refuge and the summit of Jbel Toubkal.
The Azzaden Valley is a world of terraced fields, walnut trees, waterfalls and stone villages clinging to the slopes. Far fewer people walk here than in the main Toubkal valley, so the paths are quiet and the welcome in the villages is warm. Combined with the summit, it gives you a much fuller picture of the High Atlas for just one extra day compared with the direct 2‑day trek.
The extra night also helps your body adjust to the altitude. Sleeping at around 1,850 m in Azzaden before going up to the refuge at 3,207 m makes the summit morning noticeably more comfortable for most people.
You walk with a licensed guide, a muleteer and mules for your bags, and all meals are prepared for you.
Is this trek for you?
This route suits fit hikers who want the summit and a quieter, more varied trek. Walking days are 5 to 7 hours, with the summit day around 8 to 9 hours. No climbing skills are needed between April and November.
If you are short of time, choose the 2‑day trek; if you want more villages and an even gentler build-up, the 4‑day trek is a good alternative.
Day by day
A sample itinerary for the Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley. Your guide adapts it to the weather, the season and the group.
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Day 1 Imlil to the Azzaden Valley
We collect you from your riad or hotel in Marrakesh in the morning and drive to Imlil (1,740 m), where you meet your guide and muleteer. The trek starts with a steady climb through walnut groves, terraced fields and juniper slopes to the Tizi n'Mzik pass (2,489 m), with views back over the Imlil valley and, on clear days, the summit of Toubkal. From the pass the path drops into the Azzaden Valley, a landscape of steep terraces, stone villages and streams. After a picnic lunch you continue down to Tizi Oussem (about 1,850 m), one of the largest villages in the valley, where you spend the night in a gîte. The late afternoon is a lovely time to walk along the irrigation channels, watch village life and rest your legs before the climb ahead.
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Day 2 Across to the Toubkal refuge
After breakfast you leave the Azzaden Valley and cross back towards the Mizane valley, the main route to Toubkal, joining the trail near the white shrine of Sidi Chamharouch (2,310 m). From here the path climbs above the tree line in long zigzags, with the summit massif growing larger ahead, to the Toubkal refuge (about 3,207 m). It is a long day of 6 to 7 hours, so the afternoon at the refuge is for resting, drinking plenty of water and preparing your kit for the early start. Dinner is served early.
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Day 3 Summit and back to Marrakesh
Breakfast is at around 4:30, and you set off by head torch up the boulders and scree of the south cirque. The pace is slow and steady; the night air is cold and the stars are bright. After two and a half to three hours you reach Tizi n'Toubkal (about 3,940 m) and follow the ridge to the summit of Jbel Toubkal (4,167 m), timed for sunrise. On a clear morning the view stretches across the High Atlas to the plains around Marrakesh and the Anti-Atlas to the south. After photos and a hot drink you descend to the refuge for a second breakfast, then walk down the Mizane valley past Sidi Chamharouch and Aroumd to Imlil, where the driver is waiting to take you back to Marrakesh in the early evening.
When to go
The best time for this route is April to June and September to October, when the Azzaden Valley is green or golden and the weather is stable. In spring the waterfalls are at their fullest; in autumn the walnut harvest brings the villages to life.
Summer is fine at altitude but hot in the valley. In winter the summit is snowy and requires crampons and an ice axe, and the pass into Azzaden may also be snowy, so the route may be adapted.
- Jan: winter, snow likely
- Feb: winter, snow likely
- Mar: winter, snow likely
- Apr: best conditions
- May: best conditions
- Jun: best conditions
- Jul: summer, hot valleys
- Aug: summer, hot valleys
- Sep: best conditions
- Oct: best conditions
- Nov: winter, snow likely
- Dec: winter, snow likely
Weather in Imlil right now
Live forecast
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Forecast data from MET Norway / yr.no, CC BY 4.0. Summit figures are model estimates for 4,167 m. Mountain weather changes fast, so your guide makes the final call.
Where you sleep and what you eat
The first night is in a village gîte in Tizi Oussem, with simple rooms, blankets and hot showers, and dinner with the family who run it. The second night is at the Toubkal refuge, a stone hut with dormitory rooms, bunk beds and blankets; bring a sleeping bag liner, earplugs and a head torch.
Meals are home-cooked Moroccan food: salads, soups, tagines, couscous and fresh fruit, with mint tea at every stop. Your team prepares picnic lunches on the trail.
Getting to Imlil from Marrakesh
Every departure of the Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley starts in Imlil, a mountain village at 1,740 m at the head of the Mizane valley, about 65 km south of Marrakesh. We collect you from your riad or hotel in Marrakesh in the morning; the drive takes around an hour and a half, crossing the Haouz plain and climbing through Tahanaout and Asni, where a big Berber market is held every Saturday, before the road follows the river up to Imlil.
If you are flying in, Marrakesh Menara airport is about 20 minutes from the medina, so most people arrive the day before the trek and spend a night in the city. If you are already in the mountains, for example staying in Imlil, Aroumd or Ouirgane, we can meet you there instead. Tell us where you are staying when you book, and we will confirm the pickup time the evening before.
Altitude and safety
The night in Azzaden at a moderate altitude helps acclimatisation before the refuge. As always, drink plenty, walk slowly and tell your guide if you feel unwell; descending is the cure for anything more than mild symptoms.
Your guide is licensed and trained in mountain first aid, checks the weather every day and decides whether conditions are right for the summit. Travel insurance covering trekking to 4,200 m is essential.
Tips and money
Tipping is customary in the mountains and makes a real difference to the guides, muleteers and cooks who look after you. As a rough guide, many trekkers give around 10% of the trek price, shared between the team at the end of the trip. It is never compulsory; give what feels right for the service you received.
Bring Moroccan dirhams in small notes for tips, drinks and snacks bought on the way, and souvenirs in the villages. Withdraw cash in Marrakesh before the trek: card payments are rare in the mountains and you should not count on finding a cash machine.
What to pack for this trek
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What's included
- Transfers from and to Marrakesh (on treks marked "from Marrakech")
- Licensed mountain guide for the whole trek
- Mules and muleteer to carry your bags
- All meals on the trail, with tea and drinking water
- Nights in mountain refuges, gîtes or village guesthouses
Not included
- Travel insurance (must cover trekking up to 4,200 m)
- Tips for guides, muleteers and cooks
- Soft drinks and snacks bought on the way
- Sleeping bag (can be rented in Imlil)
Before you go
Read our notes on fitness, seasons and altitude, or the questions trekkers ask most.
What trekkers say
August 2026
We had two and a half days in Morocco and wanted to spend as much of it as possible at altitude. The Toubkal Hiking Experts team was very accommodating and put together a tailor-made trek for us. From the transfer from Marrakesh to the airport,… Read the full review on Google
Translated from French
February 2026
We did a two-day trek in the Azzaden Valley, returning to Imlil, with Youssef, and it was a wonderful experience… Read the full review on Google
Translated from French
2025
We did a three-day trek with Said as our guide. We climbed Jbel Toubkal in two days, and on the last day Said took us on a beautiful hike through the valleys around Imlil… Read the full review on Google
Translated from French
October 2026
A very good experience. A superb, very well organised outing with our guide Youssef! Very good communication with Mohamed! Toubkal in one day! Mission accomplished! I recommend it
Translated from French
October 2026
We climbed Toubkal after completing the 10‑day grand tour of Toubkal. Nothing to fault in the organisation, from the pickup in Marrakesh to the return. Everything was perfect and just as we hoped. A special mention for the excellent cooking
Translated from French
Questions about the Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley
Can't find your question? Ask us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within a few hours.
Why go via the Azzaden Valley?
It is quieter, greener and more varied than the direct route, and the extra night helps you acclimatise.
How many days is the Azzaden route?
Three days, including the summit and transfers from Marrakesh.
Is the summit included?
Yes, you climb Jbel Toubkal on the final morning.
Is it harder than the 2‑day trek?
The total walking is greater, but the effort is spread over three days, so many people find it more comfortable.
Can I do this route in winter?
Yes, with crampons and an ice axe, depending on snow conditions.
Will I see waterfalls?
The Azzaden Valley is known for its streams and waterfalls, especially in spring.
Book the Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley
Tell us when you'd like to go and who's coming. We reply with availability and a clear quote, usually within a day.
from €195 per person
Price estimate
An estimate only. We confirm the exact price with your quote.
Compare our treks
See how the Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley compares with our other treks, or let the quiz below suggest one.
Sort by:
| 2-Day Mount Toubkal Trek from Marrakech | 2 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €170 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Day Mount Toubkal Trek | 4 | Moderate to challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €250 |
| 6-Day Mount Toubkal Trek | 6 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €350 |
| 7-Day Mount Toubkal Trek from Marrakech | 7 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €450 |
| Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley | 3 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €195 |
| 3-Day Berber Villages & 3 Valleys Trek | 3 | Moderate | 2,489 m | No | €195 |
| 3-Day High Atlas Mountains Hiking Tour from Marrakech | 3 | Moderate | 3,172 m | No | €195 |
| 6-Day Hike in the Atlas Mountains | 6 | Moderate to challenging | 3,172 m | No | €350 |
| Imlil Village Day Trip from Marrakesh | 1 | Easy | 1,960 m | No | On request |
| 10-Day Morocco Tour: Toubkal, Kasbahs and Sahara | 10 | Moderate | 4,167 m | Yes | On request |
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